Some 136 million people will need life-sustaining assistance in 2018, the majority due to conflict but also natural disasters such as drought. Humanitarian aid in this case covers everything from food, cash and the construction of roads or shelter to provision of medicines, vaccines and education for displaced children.
The humanitarian industry has never been so big. $28 billion was spent responding to disasters in 2017. Globally, humanitarian assistance accounts for 13% of overseas development aid.2
